Blowing Snow Warnings Persist Across Southern Ontario as Extreme Cold Grips Region

TORONTO (Azat TV) – Environment Canada’s severe weather warnings for blowing snow and extreme cold continue to impact a vast swath of Southern Ontario, leading to significant travel disruptions, highway closures, and public safety advisories extending into Sunday, February 8, 2026. The region is grappling with whiteout conditions, snow drifts, and wind chills plummeting as low as -35°C, prompting emergency services and local authorities to urge residents to avoid non-essential travel and seek shelter.

The extreme weather, which began Friday evening, February 6, intensified into Saturday, causing hazardous conditions across areas from Sarnia to London and extending into central and northeastern Ontario. Orange blizzard warnings, indicating severe weather with potential for significant damage or health impacts, were issued for areas near Lake Huron, northwest of London, before some were downgraded to yellow snow squall warnings by Saturday morning, though the threat of blowing snow and reduced visibility persists.

Environment Canada Issues Widespread Warnings

Environment Canada has maintained a series of warnings across Southern Ontario, including orange blizzard warnings for parts of the Lake Huron shore, yellow snow squall warnings for regions like Simcoe County and Muskoka, and widespread cold warnings. These alerts highlight the combination of gusty northwest winds, reaching up to 80 kilometers per hour, and lake effect snow, which is generating whiteouts and significant snow accumulation. Additional snowfall amounts of 10 to 20 centimeters are possible in areas hit by squalls, severely impacting visibility and road conditions.

The national weather agency emphasized that extreme cold poses risks for everyone, particularly young children, older adults, individuals with chronic illnesses, and those working or exercising outdoors. Wind chills are expected to remain between -30°C and -35°C through Saturday night and into Sunday morning, with similar values potentially returning Sunday night into Monday morning. Residents are advised to dress warmly in layers and check on vulnerable family, friends, and neighbors.

Highway Closures and Emergency Response to Blowing Snow

The severe blowing snow and whiteout conditions have forced critical highway closures. Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) confirmed the closure of Highway 402 in both directions between Sarnia and Highway 401 in London. Additionally, Highway 21 was closed in both directions between Dashwood Road in Grand Bend and Highway 402 in Forest. OPP Sgt. Ed Sanchuk reported that police responded to over 300 calls for service from Friday evening into Saturday morning across the affected regions, urging motorists to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary.

Lambton OPP Constable Tyler Campbell confirmed that multiple vehicles were stranded across Lambton County, with over 150 active calls for service still being handled by police. To assist stranded motorists, warming shelters have been established at several locations, including the Petrolia Arena, Watford Arena, the Camlachie Community Centre, and the Wyoming Fairgrounds. In Toronto, Mayor Olivia Chow announced the activation of eight warming centers, including three surge sites that open when temperatures drop below -15°C, ensuring no one is turned away from seeking refuge from the cold.

Regional Impacts and Safety Measures

Beyond highway closures, the extreme weather has prompted a range of safety measures across Southern Ontario. School buses were cancelled Friday in Middlesex, Oxford, and Elgin counties due to snow and poor road conditions. London Hydro stated its crews were on standby to respond to potential power outages. The OPP continues to advise drivers to adjust their speed, increase following distances, and ensure their entire headlighting system is on to improve visibility.

The persistent cold and blowing snow are stemming from a sharp cold front moving southeast from the Arctic, bringing sudden bursts of heavy snow and creating hazardous travel conditions across regions like Simcoe County and Muskoka. While gusty northwest winds were expected to ease Saturday morning, localized lake effect snow and blowing snow are forecast to continue into the afternoon, particularly for areas close to Lake Huron, maintaining periods of near-zero visibility.

The sustained nature of these severe weather events underscores the critical importance of timely public alerts and coordinated emergency responses to mitigate risks and ensure community safety during prolonged periods of extreme winter conditions.